Most people that have applied for a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) can vouch for New South Wales Ambulance’s inability to adequately award and manage FWAs in line with the needs of the workforce.

While NSWA has a workforce consisting of 50/50 men and women, the increasingly diverse needs of its changing workforce are rarely met. Caring responsibilities, which disproportionately fall upon women, are valuable, necessary work undertaken by carers. It's time that NSWA recognises this fact. Further, paramedics with medical conditions, other professions, or who want to transition into retirement, deserve to have their needs met via FWAs. 

Currently, FWAs are difficult and tedious to get, with invasive evidence requirements. They are frequently denied or amended for monetary and 'operational demand' reasons, and are often not followed, with members reporting being constantly pressured to do more than their availability allows. When will NSWA put the health and wellbeing of its workers before finances? 

Not only are Flexible Work Arrangements the right thing to do, but they are also in NSWA’s interests. FWAs keep skilled workers in the job longer, meaning NSWA uses less resources training new paramedics and dispatchers. It is long overdue that NSWA shifts its priority towards keeping the professionals they train and employ.

The ADHSU Women’s Committee is beginning their campaign towards fairer and more accessible FWAs. Complete the survey here so delegates can gather data and guide our campaign:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TGLKD5N

To stay in the loop with the ADHSU Women’s Committee campaigns, join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19fGxetVA5/